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r.^^^. 


THE   DUTY  OF   A  MINISTER   OF   JESUS 
CHRIST  ILLUSTRAftD. 


SERMON, 

PREACHED    AT   THE 

INSTALLATION 

OF   THE 

Reverend  John  H.  Stephen  Sj 

TO  THE  MINISTERIAL  OFFICE, 

In  the  Church  in  Stoneham, 

September  ii,  1795. 

By  Ebenezer  Bradford,  A,  M. 

\        Pajlor  ofthejirjl  Church  of  Chrijl  in  Rowley. 


NEWBURYPORT: 

PRiNTfiD  BY  22miiami3arrett;  Market/qmrf^ 
J  79  5- 


'^nnoh 


A    N 

INSTALLATION  SERMON, 


1  CORINTHIANS   ix.  22. 

I    AM    MADE     ALL    THINGS    TO    ALL    MEN,    THAT     I 
MIGHT    BY    ALL    MEANS    SAVE    SOME, 


JH<f7z,  Brethren  and  Fathers, 

X  HE  example  of  the  great  Apoflle  to  the  Gentiles, 
mull  be  admitted  by  all  as  worthy  of  imitation.  If  fo, 
what  fubjed  can  be  more  fuited  to  the  prefent,  folemiii 
and  joyful  occafion,  than  that  which  is  contained  in 
our  text. — I  am  made  all  things  to  all  men,  that  I  might 
by  all  means  favejome.  The  holy  Apoftle,  in  the  con- 
text, faid,  For  though  I  he  free  from  all  men — that  is,  in 
bondage  to  none — yet  have  I  made  myfelf  fervant  unto 
all-,  that  I  might  gain  the  more.  How  condefcendingr 
and  benevolent  is  this !  He  farther  faid,  And  unto  the 
Jevjs,  I  became  as  a  Je-w — that  is  to  fay,  in  circumftan- 
tial  matters — that  I  might  gain  the  Jews.  To  them  thap 
are  under  the  law:  as  under  the  law,  that  I  might  gain  them 
that  are  under  the  law.  To  them  that  are  without  law — 
that  is  To  fay,  the  Gentiles,  as  without  law — (being  not 
xvithout  law  to  God,  but  under  the  law  of  Chrifl)  that  I 
might  gain  them  that  are  without  law.  To  the  weak  be- 
came I  as  weak^  th^t  I  might  gain  the  weak  :  And  then 

introduces 


[        4        ] 

introduces  the  words  of  our  text — /  am  made  all  things 
to  allmeny  that  I  might  hy^ll  means  fa-vefome. 

The  DoQrine  naturally  arifing  from  tbefe  words, 
is — That  a  good  minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift  will,  fo  far  as 
it  is  lawful,  cheerfully  become  all  things  to  all  men, 
that  he  may  by  all  means  faye  fome. 

In  illuftrating  this  doflrine,  we  will  in  the 
First  place,  fhew  what  is  implied  in  a  Minifter  of 
Jefus  Chrift's  becoming  all  things  to  all  men. 

II.  Take  notice  of  fome  of  the  motives  which  in- 
duce the  faithful  Minifters  of  the  gofpel  to  adopt  this 
line  of  condu8:, 

III.  Close  the  fubjeft  with  feveral  inferences, 
and  fuch  addrefles  as  are  ufual  on  occafions  like  the 
prefent. 

My  dear  Brethren-— That  1  might,  before  your  eyes^ 
exemplify  the  chara6ler  which  I  have  now  undertaken 
to  illuftrate,  permit  me  to  afk  you  to  bear  your  friend 
and  brother  upon  your  hearts  before  the  throne  of 
^race  ;  and  plead  him  who  heareth  prayer,  that  he  may 
difcern  the  things  which  differ,  and  upon  this  occafiori 
fpeak  as  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  afhamed. 

According  to  the  method  propdTed,  we  are  in  the 
jirji place,  to  fhew  what  is  implied  in  a  Minifter  of 
Jefus  Chrift's  becoming  all  things  to  all  men. 

In  illuftrating  this  idea,  we  would  obferve,  > 

I.  That  it  is  implied  in  a  Minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift 
becoming  all  things  to  all  men,  that  he  accommodates 
himfelf  to  the  various  capacities  of  all  men.  He  will 
not  treat  children  as  men,  and  men  as  children — the 

ignorapt 


[         5         ] 

ignorant  as  wife,  and  the  wife  as  ignorant.  He  will 
not  treat  thofe  of  weak  and  feeble  powers  as  thofe  of 
4he  moft  vigorous  and  Ihining  abilities — but  accom- 
modate himfelf  to  the  different  capacities  of  thofe  tp 
whom  he  has  the  honour  to  bear  the  all-important  mef- 
fages  of  wifdom  and  grace.  In  all  things  taking  great 
care  to  make  himfelf  clearly  underftood.  He  is  by  no 
means,  like  one  of  thofe  foppifh  mortals,  whofc  highefl; 
ambition  is,  by  high  founding  words,  and  well  turned 
periods,  deftitute  of  ideas,  to  make  his  audience  flare. 
On  the  one  hand,  he  is  careful  not  to  fhoot  over  the 
heads  of  the  young  and  the  weak;  but  entertain  them 
with  the  firft  and  the  plaineft  principles  of  the  gofpel ; 
for  he  finds,  as  the  great  Apoftle  did,  thu  he  mufl 
fpeak  unto  them  as  babes,  and  not  men.  On  the  oth- 
er hand,  he  feels  himfelf  bound  to  accommodate  hini- 
felf  to  thofe  of  larger  and  more  improved  capacities  ; 
and  confequently  leaving  the  firft  principles  of  the 
doftrine  of  Chrift — fuch  as  laying  again  the  founda- 
tion of  repentance  from  dead  works,  and  of  faith  to- 
wards God  ;  fuch  as  the  doftrine  of  baptifms,  aBd  lay- 
ing on  of  hands ;  and  of  the  refurre6lidn  from  the  dead, 
?md  of  eternal  judgment.  He  goes  on  unto,  perfec- 
tion ;  that  is  to  fay,  he  launches  out  into  the  bro?id 
ocean  of  divinity,  and  entertains  his  i[nore  improved 
hearers,  with  things  which  are  to  them  new  and  fu- 
blime.  In  his  conduQ;  to  the  weak,  he  imitates  his 
divine  Lord  and  Mafter,  who  faid  unto  his  difcipies, 
^*  I  have  many  thing*  to  f2\y  unio  you,  but  ye  are  not 

jet 


[        6        ] 

yet  able  to  bear  them.  He  imitates  the  great  Apoftlp 
to  the  Gentiles,  who  fed  babes  with  milk,  and  men 
with  meat. 

In  this  connexion  permit  us  to  obferve,  that  al- 
though we  are  no  enemies  to  metaphyfical  difquifitions 
on  proper  occafions,  yet  we  muft  bear  our  teftimony 
againft  compofing  lermons  for  common  audiences  in 
a  refined  and  metaphrfical  way  and  manner.  Our 
reafons  for  this  are,  becaufe  common  audiences  do  not 
,  underftand  the  terms  made  ufe  of  by  fuch  fermonizers; 
and  of  courfe  fuch  fermons  are  to  them  in  an  unknown 
tongue.  Let  us  hear  what  the  Apollle  fays  upon  this 
fubjeft — "  I  thank  God,  I  fpeak  with  tongues  more 
than  you  all ;  yet  in  the  church  I  had  rather  fpeak 
five  words  with  my  underftanding  (that  by  my  voice  I 
might  teach  others  alfo)  than  ten  thoufand  words  in 
an  unknown  tongue." 

2.  In  a  Minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift's  becoming  all 
things  to  all  men,  it  is  implied,  that  he  adapts  himfelf 
to  the  moral  charaQer  of  all  men.  That  there  is 
among  men  a  diverfity  of  moral  charafter,  is  exceed- 
ingly evident  both  from  fcripture  and  obfervation. 

They  who  attend  to  thefe  mediums  of  information, 
will  foondifcover,thatamongtheirfellowcreatures  there 
arethofe  who  are  penitent,  and  thofe  who  are  impenitent; 
thofe  who  are  believers,  and  thofe  who  are  unbelievers; 
thofe  who  are  righteous,  and  thofe  who  are  unrighteous. 
They  will  be  fully  convinced  that  among  men,  there 
are  fuch  perfons  as  in  fcripture  language  are  ftiled 

faints 


[        7        ] 

faints,  and  Rich  as  are  ftiled  finners — fuch  as  the  clean;} 
and  fuch  as  the  unclean — fuch  as  ferve  God,  and  fuch 
as  ferve  him  not.      They  will  difcern  a  difference  in 
the  charafters  of  the  wicked,  and  in  the  charafters  of 
the  good.     Some  of  the  wicked  are  more  ftupid  and 
heaven  daring  than  others  ;  fome  of  the  good  are  more 
devout  and  unfliaken  in  their  faith  than  others.  Some 
iinners  are  convinced  of  their  iniquities,  and  of  courfe 
are  in  great  diftrefs  for  their  fouls — others  are  in  a 
ftate  of  ignorance  and  fecurity.      Some  faints  have 
obtained  a  full  alfurance  of  hope,  and  go  on  their  way 
rejoicing—others  are  exercifed  with  fears  and  doubts, 
and  go  on  their  way  tremblings 

Now,  for  a  Minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift  to  become  all 
things  to  all  men,  it  is  implied,  that  he  accommodates 
himfelf  to  the  various  moral  characters  of  all  men.    I» 
doing  this,  he  will  righdy  divide  the  word,  and  give  a 
portion  unto  every  man,  according  to  his  moral  cha- 
ra£ier,  in  due  feafon.    To  the  unawakened,  he  will  ad- 
minifter  all  fuitable  means  of  convitlion ;  he  will  lay 
hold  on  his  reafon  and  confcience,  and  paint  his  abom- 
inable chara6ter  in  fuch  language,  that  it  will  be  almoft 
impoflible  for  him  not  to  fee  himfelf  a  finner— -he  will 
arrange  in  his  view  all  the  artillery  of  heaven,  and  point 
out  the  effefts  of  its  being  difcharged  againft  his  naked, 
his  guilty  fool.      To  the  convinced,  he  will  hold  up 
the  gofpel  of  Jefus  Chrift,  in  all  its  divine  pomp  and 
unfuUied  glory,  and  urge  home  upon  his  confcience, 
the  duties  of  immediate  repentance  towards  God,  and 
faith  in  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  j  in  the  ears  of  fuch  an 

one^ 


[        8        ] 

bne,he  will  found  the  melting  invitations  of  the  Fatherj 
the  Son  and  Holy  Ghoft,  to  lay  hold  on  eternal  life. 
To  thofe  who  are  defpairing  of  falvation,  on  the  ac- 
count of  the  greatnefs  of  their  fii^s — -he  will  fay,  re- 
member the  riches  of  divine  grace  to  Mary  Magde- 
lene,  out  of  whom  God  call  feven  devils — and  recol- 
left  the  goodnefs  and  mercy  of  God  to  a  perfecuting 
Sauls  who  had  breathed  out  the  language-of  havoc  and 
deftruflion  againft  the  church,  and  blafphemy  againft 
the  dear  Redeemer. — He  will  call  up  their  attention 
to  the  rich  and  fovereign  difplays  of  mercy,  made  to  a 
Manaflehj  who  had  filled  Jerufalem  with  innocent 
blood — and  to  forae  of  thofe  who  had  embrued  their 
hands  in  the  blood  of  an  incarnate  God. — He  will  talk 
to  them  of  the  infinite  merit  of  the  blood  of  Chrift  to 
cleanfe  the  vileft  of  the  vile,  from  all  unrighteoufnefs, 
and  fo  fave  them  from  finking  m  defpair,  under  a  fight 
of  the  greatnefs  of  their  fins.— He  twill  lead  them  to 
bow  down  upon  the  bended  knees  of  their  fouls,  in  the 
deepeft  humiliation,  before  the  Majefty  of  all  worlds^ 
and  fay,  pardon  mine  iniquity,  O  God,  for  it  is  great. 
To  the  ftrong,  he  will  fay,  let  him  that  thinketh  that 
he  ftandeth,  take  heed,  left  he  fall.  To  the  weak  in 
faith,  he  will  fay,  look  unto  Chrift,  for  by  his  ftrength- 
ening  you,  you  will  be  enabled  to  do  all  things.  To 
the  difobedient,  fuch  a  minifter  of  Chrift  will  not  fail 
of  denouncing  all  the  curfes  of  the  law — :all  the  terrors 
of  Mount  Sinai.  Hell  itfelf  will  be  laid  open — will  be 
prefcnted  without  a  covering,  before  their  eyes ;  for 
knowing  the  terrors  of  the  Lord,  be  will  endeavour  to 

perfuade 


[        9        ] 

perfuade  men  thereby  to  attend  to  the  truth.  To  the 
obedient,  he  will  pronounce  all  the  bleflings  of  the 
new  covenant ;  and,  as  far  as  in  him  lies,  will  unfold 
the  world  of  glory,  with  all  its  aftonifliing  excellencies 
to  their  anxious  and  waiting  fouls. 

In  one  word — in  a  Minifter's  being  made  all  things 
to  all  men,  he  will  be  made  a  fon  of  thunder  unto  the 
finner  of  every  denomination,  and  a  fon  of  confolation 
to  the  faint  of  every  denomination.  Thus  do  the  faith- 
ful Minifters  of  Jefus  Chrifl  become  all  things  to  all 
men,  by  accommodating  thcmfelves  to  the  moral  cha~ 
rafters  of  all  men,  and  rightly  dividing  unto  them,  fev- 
erally,  the  word  of  God  in  due  feafon. 

3.  It  is  implied,  in  a  Minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift's 
becoming  all  things  to  all  men,  that  he  accommodates 
himfelf  to  the  various  natural,  moral  and  political  fit- 
uations  of  all  men. 

Among  our  fellow-creatures,  we  find  fome  in  a  ftate 
of  affluence,  and  others  in  a  ftate  of  poverty  and  wretch- 
ednefs  ;  fome  in  a  ftate  of  health,  and  others  in  a  ftate 
of  difeafe,  languor  and  almoft  death  ;  fome  we  find 
are  triumphing  in  all  ihe  joys  of  a  rational  liberty  ; 
others  linking  under  the  galling  chains  of  the  moft  ab- 
je£l  and  deplorable  flavery  ;  fome  are  attacked  with 
the  fiery  darts  of  the  great  adverfary  of  fouls,  and  fink- 
ing in  defpair — v;hile  others  are  enjoying  the  triumph 
of  faith,  and  fwimming  down  the  tide  of  time  v;ith 
tranquil  and  placid  fpirits,  as  it  were  uninterrupted  by 
the  great  adverfary  of  fouls.  Some  are  laborious  and 
B  diligent. 


r    10    ] 

di^gent,  forgetting  tlie  things  which  are  behind,  and 
reaching  forward  to  the  things  which  are  before^  and 
preffing  to  the  mark  of  the  prize  of  their  high  calling, 
which  "is  in  Chrift  Jefus  their  Lord — while  others  are 
backfliding,  flothful  and  inattentive  to  the  great  things 
which  concern  their  peace.  Some  are  rioting  in  the 
worldly  glory  of  riches,  fplendor  and  ^ower ;  while 
others,  deftitute  of  both  money  and  power,  (land  at  a 
diftance  and  figh  for  thefe  earthly  toys.  Some  are 
heartily  engaged  in  the  caiife  of  God— others  are  a* 
heartily  engaged  in  the  caiife  of  the  Devil.  Some  arc 
doing  all  ia  their  pcCver  to  fupport  the  truth  of  chrifti- 
anity,  and  propagate  real  religion  among  their  fellow- 
creatures — others  are  as  earneftly  engaged  to  overturn 
the  fcriptures  as  the  word  of  the  Irving  God  ;  and  pro- 
pagate thofe  things  which  are  error  and  delufion.  Some 
are  in  the  ftrait  and  narrow  way  that  leadeth  to  life 
eternal — others  are  in  the  broad  road  that  leadeth  to 
everlafting  deftruflion.  Qf  men  in  all  offices— fome 
inherit  the  fpirit  of  their  ftations,'  and  are  faithfiil,-and 
others  v»'ear  the  contrary  charafters.  Now  it  is  ex- 
ceedingly evident,  that  if  a  minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift 
would  be  made  all  things  to  all  men,  he  muft  accom- 
tnodate  himfelf  to  the  various  fituations  of  all  men, 
with  whom  he  has  any  thing  to  do;  or  he  never  can 
become  all  things  to  all  men. 

4.  It  is  implied  in  a  minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift's  be- 
coming all  things  to  all  men— that,  fo  far  as  it  is  law- 
fal,  he  complies  with  the  various  fafhions  of  this  world, 

and 


[     »     ] 

and  the  various  ceremonies  of  the  different  fefts  and 
denomination  of  chriftians.  Among  men  there  are 
many  fafhions,  which  in  ihemfelves  are  quite  harmlefs. 
And  among  religious  communities,  there  are  feveral 
ceremonies  which  are  purely  circumftantial.  The 
man,  therefore,  who  is  made  all  things  to  all  men,  will 
readily  comply  with  the  common  and  innocent  fafhions 
of  the  day  in  which  he  lives — His  drefs  and  manner  of 
living  will  be  fuch  as  is  common  for  miniilers  where 
he  dwells — He  will  be  far  from  any  peculiar  fondnefs 
for  any  particular  cut  for  his  coat,  or  form  for  his  hat — 
which  may  argue  fingularity  of  fentiment  and  bigot- 
try  of  mind — but  generoufly  comply  with  the  moft. 
decent  and  common  modes  of  drefs  and  manner  of 
living  among  the  people  where  God  has  cad  his  lot  in 
life. 

With  refpefl:  to  the  diverfity  of  circumftantial  ce- 
remonies, among  chriftians,  he  will  adopt  the  fame 
line  of  conduct,  and  make  it  no  term  of  communion 
at  times  to  pray  by  forrj)  pr  extempore— to  partake  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  kneeling  or  fitting — to  preach  by 
notes  or  without  them — to  fmg  new  tunes  or  old 
ones — to  fmg  in  conjunftion  with  inftrumental  mufic 
or  without  it — and  ten  thoufand  other  cireumftances 
of  as  little  importance.  He  will  feel  in  fome  meafure 
as  Paul  did.  when  he  faid,  If  meat  make  my  brother  to 
cffend'i  i  "^i^^  ^^^  no  Jlejh  while  the  world Jlandeth. 

I  AM  not  infenfible,  my  brethren,  that  I  fliall  be 
told,  that  the  Apoflle  fays,  to  the  church  at  Rome,  be  ye 
not  conformed  io  this  world  :  but  be  ye  transformed  by  the 

ren^wi??^ 


renezuing  of  your  inind^  that  ye  might  prove  what  is  thatgood 
andacceptable^andperfeclxvillo/God.  Howisthisconfiftent 
with  what  you  have  faid,  concerning  what  you  call  the 
innocent  compliance  with  the  faihions  of  the  world, 
and,  what  you  call  circuniftantial  ceremonies,  pra£lifed 
by  the  various  fefts  and  denominations  of  chriftians  ? 
We  anfwer,  hy  conformity  to  this  world-,  which  the  Apof- 
tle  forbids,  we  are  to  underftand,  a  conformity  in  heart 
and  not  in  drefs,  and  ceremony  purely  circumftantial ; 
as  is  evident,  by  his  exhorting  to  them  to  be  trans- 
formed by  the  renewing  of  their  minds.  We  con- 
clude therefore,  both  from  the  example  and  precept 
of  the  great  Apoftle  to  the  Gentiles,  that  a  faithful 
Minifter  of  Jelus,  will  become  all  things  to  all  men,  by 
complying  with  the  innocent  modes  of  drefs,  and  cir- 
cumftantial ceremonies  in  religion,  pra6iifed  among 
the  chriftians,  where  God  has  caft  his  lot. 

5.  It  is  implied  in  a  Minifter's  being  made  all 
things  to  all  men,  that  he  fupports  the  charafter  of  a 
teacher,  a  counfellor,  paftor  and  pattern,  to  the  people 
where  God  fends  him. 

As  a  teacher,  his  work  will  be  exceedingly  labori- 
ous ;  for  he  muft  not  fhun  to  declare  the  whole  coun- 
fel  of  God  to  his  hearers ;  if  he  does,  he  will  not  be 
clear  from  the  blood  of  all  men.  It  cannot  be  reaf- 
OTiably  expefted,  that  we  fliould  on  this  occafion  en- 
ter into  a  particular  enumeration  of  all  thofe  great: 
and  fublime  doftrines.  Such  a  Minifter  will,  as  far  as 
he  has  opportunity,  unfold  to  the  minds  of  his  dear 
•people.      We  fhall  therefore,  content  ourfelves,  with 

mentioning 


•         [         '3        ] 

mentioning  the  outlines  of  that  fyftem  of  theology  con- 
tained in  the  fcriptures  of  divine  truth. 

The  firft  and  moft  evident  fentiment  contained  in 
the  fcriptures  is,  that  in  faft  there  is  one  God,  exift- 
ing  in  three  perfons.  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy 
Ghoft. — The  evidences  of  this  fa6t,  and  the  character 
of  this  glorious  being,  will  be  fubjefts,  on  which  the 
faithful  preacher  will"  dwell  with  great  delight. 

2.  He  will  fpare  no  pains  to  lay  before  the  minds 
of  his  hearers,  both  their  charaQers  and  fituations,  as 
they  are  by  nature ;  in  doing  which,  he  will  wifely 
fhun  the  too  common  language  of  flattery,  and  mode 
of  daubing  with  untempered  m.ortar.  He  will  feel 
himfelf  impelled  by  the  command  of  God — "  Son  of 
man  caufe  Jerufalem  to  know  her  abominations" — not 
to  deal  deceitfully  with  his  hearers,  on  a  fubjeft  of 
fuch  vaft  importance  to  their  precious  fouls.  With  all 
his  might,  he  will  labour  to  point  out  to  them,  the  na- 
ture of  their  fin  and  guilt,  as  well  as  the  danger  of 
their  fituation,  while  out  of  Chrift. 

3.  As  a  teacher,  fuch  a  Minifter  will  unfold  to  the 
minds  of  his  hearers,  the  gofpel  plan  of  falvation, 
which  is  in  very  deed,  the  wifdom  of  God,  and  the 
power  of  God  to  all  them  that  believe. 

Here  permit  me  to  obferve.  he  will  be  very  partic- 
ular in  his  defcripiions  of  the  being,  the  chara6ler,  of- 
fices and  work  of  the  Mediator — of  the  gofpel  invita- 
tions, commands,  promifes  and  threatnings — of  the 
feveral  operations  of  the  fpirit  of  God — of  the  various 

views 


[        H        ] 

views  of  the  mind,  and  exercifes  of  the  heart,  which 
conftitute  the  new  creature — of  the  good   words  and 
works,  in  which  all  the  followers  of  Chrift  chearfully 
and  perpetually  abound.     He  will  lay  before  his  hear- 
ers, the  great  do6lrines  of  the  refurreclion  from  the 
dead — and  the  general  judgment;-r-He  will  fhew,  that 
the  finally  impenitent,   muft  fuffer  the  vengeance  of 
eternal  fire,  in  that  world  of"  horror  and  defpair,  pre- 
pared for  the  ungodly  of  all  defcriptions. — He  will  un- 
fold to  the  view  of  believers,  the  glory  of  the  world 
of  God,  as  their  proper  inheritance,  and  prefent  them 
with  palms  of  honour  and  crowns  of  life,  which  fade 
not  away. — As  a  counfellor,  he   will  always  be  ready 
to  advife  the  unawakened  and  fecure  finner,  to  attend 
to  his  guilt,   his  danger,  and  his  duty. — He  will  ad- 
vife the  convinced  finner,  immediately  to  exercife  re- 
pentance towards  God,  and  faith  in  the   Lord  Jefus 
Chrift. — He  will  chearfully  attend  to  every  cafe  of 
confcience,  and  adminifter  good  and  wholefome  doc- 
trines upon  each. — The  converted  he  will  counfel  to 
enter  into    covenant  with  God   and  his  people,  and 
walk  in  all  his  commandments  and  ordinances,  blame- 
lefs. — He  will  enter  into  the  knowledge  of  the  partic- 
ular obligations  of  men,  to  God  and  man,  and  advife 
all  to  comply  with  them. — He  will  in  a  fpecial  man- 
ner, ftudy  church  difcipline,  and  be  ready  to  adminif- 
ter to  the  churches  of  his  dear  Lord  and  maftcr,  fuita- 
ble  advice,  in  all  cafes  of  difficulty. — As  a  paftor,  he 
will  be  ready  to  adminifter  the  feals  of  the  covenant  to 
all  properly  qualified  perfons,  and  maintain  the  eftab- 

liflied 


[        »5        J 

lifhed  difcipline  of  the  houfe  of  God. — As  a  pattern, 
be  will  be  careful  to  believe,  and  praftife,  nothing  in 
religion,  but  what  is  founded  on  the  fcriptures  of  di- 
vine truth. — He  will  feel  and  obey  that  facred  com- 
mand— ^«  Be  thou  an  example  of  the  believers,  in 
word,  in  converfation,  in  charity,  in  fpirit,  in  faith,  in 
purity.  The  great  duties,  which  in  his  difcourfes,  he 
urges  upon  others,  he  will  in  his  life  exemplify  before 
all  men ;  he  will  not  only  preach,  but  praQife,  every 
branch  of  the  chri{lian  religion. 

Permit  me  to  clofe  this  defcription,  in  the  poetic 
language  of  the  ingenious  Mr.  Cowper,  in  which  he 
draws  the  contrail  between  a  true  and  falfe  Minifter,— 

**  I  VENERATE  the  man  whofe  heart  is  warm, 
Whofe  hands  are  pure,  whofe  doftrine  and  wliofe  life. 
Coincident,  exhibit  lucid  proof, 
That  he  is  honeft  in  the  facred  caufe. 
To  fuch  I  render  more  than  mere  refpeft, 
Whofe  aflions  fay,  that  they  refpecft  ihemfelves. 
But,  loofe  in  morals,  and  in  manners  vain. 
From  fuch  ApoMch,  0  ye  fniired  head/ ! 
Preferve  the  church,  and  lay  not  careleft  hands 
On  fculls,  that  cannot  teach  and  will  not  learn. 
Would  I  defcribe  a  pr'cacher,  fuch  as  Paul, 

Were  he  on  earth,  would  hear,  approve  and  own, 

Paul  fliould  himfelf  direifl  me.— I  would  trace 

His  mafter  ftrokes,  and  draw  from  his  defign  : 

I  would  exprcfs  him  fimple,  grave,  fincere  ; 

In  dodrine  uncorrupt,  In  language  plain  ; 

And  plain  in  manner.     Decent,  folemn,  chafle, 

And  natural  in  geftures.     Much  imprefs'd 

Himfelf,  and  confciousof  his  awful  charge, 

Aaa 


[    ««    ] 

And  anxious,  mainly,  that  the  flock  he  feeds 
May  feel  it  too.     AfFefllonate  in  look, 
And  tender  in  addrefsas  well  becomes 
A  meflenger  of  grace  to  guilty  men. 
Behold  the  pidlure  !  Is  it  likfe — Like  whom? 
The  things  that  mount  the  roftrum  with  a  (kip, 
And  then  Ikip  down  again." Alas  !  AUs  I 

Tni.  Jccond  general  Heai  of  this  difcourfe  was  td 
take  notice  of  feme  of  thofe  motives,  which  induce  th6 
faithful  Minifters  of  the  gofpel  io  become  all  things  to  all 
men,  that  they  might  by  all  means  favefome. 

The  firfl  motive  to  induce  a  faithful  Minifter  of  the 
gofpel  to  adopt  this  laborious  and  felf-denied  line  of 
condu6l  is,  the  glory  of  God.  The  Apoftle  fays,  thi^ 
I  do  for  the  gofpel's  fake,  that  is  to  fay,  for  the  glory 
of  Godo 

2.  Another  motive  inducing  the  Minifters  of  the 
gofpel,  to  that  courfe  of  condu61:  we  have  defcriBed,  is 
the  good  of  mankind.  "  I  am  made  all  things  to  all 
men,  that  by  all  means  I  might  fave  fome,"  faid  the  A- 
poftle.  The  falvation  of  fome  of  the  children  of  men, 
was  an  obje£l  of  fo  great  importance,  in  the  Apoftle's 
view,  that  he  would  willingly  be  "  Made  all  things  to  all 
men,  that  he  might  by  all  means  fave  fome." 

3.  Such  a  Minifter's  own  falvation  induces  him  to 
adopt  this  mode  of  proceeding.  "  This  I  do,"  faid 
the  Apoftle,  '■  for  the  gofpel's  fake,  that  I  might  be 
partaker  thereof  with  you." 

Thus  the  glory  of  God,  which  is  promoted  by   the 
honour  of  the  gofpel— the  falvauon  of  fome  of  the  hu- 
man 


t        <7        j 
inari  race,  together  with  the  falvation  of  fuch  a  Min- 
ifter's  own  foul— all  powerfully  operate  to  induce  him 
to  become  all  things  to  all  men,  that  by  all  means  he 
might  fave  fome. 

From  the  fubjed  thus  illuftrated,  we  will  now  draw 
a  few  inferences  by  way  of 

IMPROVEMENT, 
i.  From  what  hath  been  faid,  upon  this  fubje6lj  we 
may  learn  the  great  importance  of  a  Minifter  of  Jefus 
Chrift's  underftanding  human  nature.  Unlefs  this 
fliould  be  his  cafe,  it  will  be  impofTible  for  him  to  he- 
come  all  things  to  all  Tiien^  that  he  might  by  all  means  fave 
fome. 

2.  It  is  exceedingly  evident  from  the  fpirit  of  this 
fubjed,  that  a  Minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift  ought  to  have  art 
extenfive  and  accurate  acquaintance  with  the  Chriftian 
religion,  with  true  divinity. 

3.  From  this  fubjeft  we  m'ay  fee  the  importance  of 
a  Minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift's  being  a  good  man.  With- 
out goodnefs  of  heart,  no  man  could  ever  become  all 
things  to  all  men,  for  this  purpofe,  that  he  might  by  all 
means  gain  fome  over  to  true  religion  and  unfeigned 
piety. 

4.  We  may  learn,  that  a  Minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift 
ought  to  be  a  man  poffeffed  not  only  with  good  natu- 
ral powers  atid  faculties,  but  improved  by  much  ftudy. 
Weak  minds  and  unimproved  faculties  will  always  fall 
exceeding  fhort  of  the  mark  of  a  faithful  Minifter  of 
Chrift,  •  Xl  5.  Wf. 


[        18        ] 

5-  We  may  learn  that  a  Minifter  of  Chrift  ought  to 
be  a  man  of  great  felf-denial,  as  well  as  refolution  and 
perfeverance,  or  he  will  never  become  all  things  to  all 
men,  that  he  might  by  all  means  fave  fome. 

6*  From  what  hath  been  faid,  we  may  learn,  that  a 
people  ought  to  eileem,  admire  and  attend  to  a  Min^ 
ifter  of  Chrift,  who  evidently  condefcends  to  become 
all  things  to  all  men,  that  he  might  by  all  means  fave 
fome  of  their  precious  immortal  fouls. 

\Ve  fhall  now  clofe  the  fubjeft  with  fuch  addrcffes 
as  are  ufual  on  accafions  like  the  prefent.     And, 

ift.  Permit  me  to  addrefs  a  few  words  to  my 
l^everend  Fathers  and  Brethren  in  the  Miniftry. 

Reverend,  holy  and  beloved^  Permit  your  unworthy 
friend  and  brother,  to  call  upon  you  and  himfelf,  on 
this  occafion,  folemnly  to  examine  whether  you  have 
lecome  all  things  to  all  men,  fince  you  have  engaged  in 
the  work  of  the  miniftry,  lor  the  exprefs  purpofe  of 
faving  fome  of  the  poor  ruined  fouls,  over  which  the 
Holy  Ghoft  hath  made  you  overfecrs  ? 

Have  you  carefully  adapted  yourfelves  to  the  v«t- 
rious"  capacities,  moral  charafters  and  fituations  of 
your  hearers  ?  Have  you  complied  with  the  innocent 
circumftaiitial  fafliions  and  religious  ceremonies  of  the 
people  where  God  has  caft  your  lot?  Have  you  adcd 
well  your  pans  as  teachers,  as  counfellors,  as  paftors, 
and  as  patterns  to  the  people  of  your  various  charges  ? 
Hav^e  you  in  very  deed  become  all  things  to  all  men, 
that  bv  all  means  vou  might  fave  fome.     If  you  have 

done 


[  >9  ] 
done  thefe  things,  my  fathers  and  brethren,  you  have 
undoubtedly  imitated  the  great  Apoftle  to  the  Gentiles ; 
yea,  you  have  imitated  your  divine  Lord  and  Mafter ; 
and  are,  through  grace,  worthy  of  that  divine  elogium, 
which  by  and  by  will  be  pronounced  on  each  of  you, 
Well  done,  good  and  faithful  fervant,  thoiihafl  heen  faith- 
ful over  a  few  things — /  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many 
things — enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord.  But  if,  on 
the  contrary,  you  have  been  of  a  proud,  haughty  and 
bigotted  fpirit ;  if  you  have  refufed  to  accommodate 
yourfelves  to  the  different  capacities  of  your  hearers. 
Jf  you  have  mixed  and  confounded  moral  charafters, 
with  each  other,  making  little  or  no  difference  in  your 
difcourfesbetweentheclean&tbe  unclean;  betweenhim 
thatfervethGod  &  him  that  ferveth  him  not.  If  you  have 
yefufed  tofludy,and  fo  far  as  is  innocent  and  conveni- 
ent, to  comply  with  circumflantial  ma,tters5  which  have  a 
tendency  to'  ingratiate  you  into  the  favour  of  your  peo- 
ple. If  you  have  fhunned  to  declare  the  whole  coun- 
fel  of  God  ;  if  you  have  refufed  to  adminifter  the  or- 
dinances of  God's  houfe,  and  aft  well  your  parts 
as  paftors'of  your  feveral  flocks  ;  if  you  have  been 
flothful  in  counfelling,  and  backward  in  fitting  good 
examples  before  your  dear  hearers.  In  one  word,  if 
you  have  negle£led  to  become  all  things  to  all  men, 
you  have  never  felt  the  importance  of  promoting  God's 
glory,  the  welfare  of  perifhing  fmners,  yea,  the  worth 
of  your  own  fouls.  Let  us  look  into  our  own  con- 
dud,  my  fathers  and  brethren^  and  wherein  we  have 

been 


[        «o        J 

been  deficient  in  our  duty,"  in  becoming  all  things  to  all 
men,  let  us  con^efs  it  before  God,  and  plead  his  for- 
givenefs.  May  God  grant  the  richeft  efFufions  of  his 
grace  and  love  to  you  all.     Ameiu 

Our  next  addrefs  is  due  to  the  Pallor  ele6l. 
\  Reverend  and  dear  Brother^  You  are  about  to  be  fct 
over  this  dear  church  and  people,  with  a  particular 
and  folemn  charge  to  become  all  things  to  them  all, 
that  by  all  means  you  might  fave  fome  of  their  preci- 
ous fouls.  You  have  heard  what  is  implied  in  this 
great  duty.  Are  you  now  ready,  in  the  moft  fincere 
and  folemn  manner,  to  dedicate  yourfelf  afrefli  unto 
the  Lord,  and  unio  the  great  work  where  unto  you 
liave  been  called  ?  Providence  has  caft  your  lot  a- 
mong  a  people  who  evidently  need  fuch  a  Minifter. 
We  devoutly  blefs  the  God  of  all  grace,  that  he  has 
led  this  church  and  people,  to  make  choice  of  you  for 
their  Minifter ;  and  that  he  has  alfo  led  you  to  com- 
ply with  their  invitation. 

We  would  now  earneflly  call  upon  you,  by  thq 
grace  of  God,  firmly  to  refolve,  that  you  will,  agree- 
able to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  our  text,  become 
all  ihings  to  this  people,  that  you  might  by  all  means 
fave  fome  of  their  perifhing  fouls.  O  Brother!  ftudy 
their  various  capacities,  chara6lers  and  fituations,  and 
adapt  yourfelf  to  the  fame  ;  that  you  might  glorify  God, 
fave  yourfelf,  and  them  that  hear  you.  Be  faithful  a§ 
a  teacher,  counfellor,  paflor,  friend  and  pattern  to  this 

people. 


[    "     ] 

people.  Be  careful,  that  you  clear  your  garments  of 
the  blood  of  all  men  :  For  this  purpofe,  may  your 
mind  be  full  of  light,  your  heart  full  of  love,  and  your 
life  full  of  a6ls  of  righteoufnefs' — of  good  works. 

Dear  Brother^  We  bid  you  God's  fpeed.  Go  and 
play  the  man— for  your  God,  your  people,  and  your 
pwn  foul. 

We  would  now  addrefs  the  church  and  people  of 
God  in  this  place. 

Men  and  brethren^  It  is  unexpeftedly,  and  we  afl'ure 
you,  with  no  fmall  pleafure,  that  we  find  you,  who  fo 
lately  were  in  a  ftate  of  divifion  and  animofity,  are 
now  ill  fuch  a  (late  of  peace  and  unanimity,  as  harmo- 
nioufly  to  give  this,  our  dear  brother,  a  call  to  fettle 
among  you,  in  the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry.  You 
have  this  day  heard  his  duty  delineated;  and  if  it  be  a 
faft,  that  it  is  his  duty,  to  become  all  things  to  you  ; 
it  muft  be  alfo  true,  .that  it  is  your  duty,  to  become  all 
things  to  him.  For  the  want  of  this  chriftian  conde- 
fcenfion  and  love,  many  a  church  and  people  have 
been  deprived  of  a  preached  gofpel.  The  great  God 
has  looked  down  upon  your  former  conduft  towards 
your  Miniflers,  and  judged  between  you  and  them  ; 
what  this  judgment  is,  we  pretend  not  to  fay  ;  it  will  be 
unfolded,  when  the  fecrets  of  all  men  fhall  be  laid  be- 
fore the  univerfe,.  His  eye  is  now  upon  you,  and  he 
knows  what  your  conduft  will  be  toward  him,  whom 
you  have  this  day  called  to  be  your  Minifter.     I  be- 

lifve 


[        «a        ] 

lieve  it  is  the  earnell  and  fincere  prayer  of  this  vener- 
able council,  as  well  as  the  prayer  of  the  people  of 
God  in  general,  that  the  fpirit  of  the  gofpel  may  be 
diffufed  throughout  this  town — that  you  and  your  Min- 
ifter  may  have  the  fpirit  and  temper  of  the  followers  of 
the  Lamb  of  God. 

Brethren,  we  moft  cordially  bid  you  God's  fpeed. 

One  word  to  this  large  audience  and  we  have  done. 

If  it  be  the  duty  of  the  Minifters  of  Chrift,  to  be^ 
come  all  things  to  all  men,  that  they  might  by  all 
means  fave  fome,  it  muft  be  your  duty,  with  patienccj 
humility  and  repentance,  to  hear  and  obey  their  mef- 
fages  from  the  God  of  love. 


A      M 


2.C> 


The    charge, 

GIVEN     BY 

Tke  Reverend  Mr.  P  R  E  N  T I  S  S,  of  Reading. 


T^THATEVER  office  any  man  fuftains,  whether  in 
^  ^  church  or  ftate,  it  is  of  high  importance  that 
he  be  faithful  therein.  It  is  efpecially  important,  that 
chriftian  Minifters  be  faithful  in  the  difcharge  of  the 
duties  of  their  holy  funftion,  becaufe  the  glory  of  God, 
the  intereft  of  Chrift's  kingdom.,  the  temporal  welfare 
of  the  people  among  whom  they  labour,  and  the  eter- 
nal happinefs  of  their  own  louls  and  of  the  fouls  o 
their  flock,  are  all  intimately  concerned  herein.  St. 
Paul  earneftly  exhorted,  and  folemnly  charged  Tim- 
othy and  Titus,  young  Minifters  of  Chrift,  to  be  faith- 
ful. 

As  you,  Mr.  John  Hathway  Stevens,  have 
been  invited,  by  the  Church  and  People  of  this  town, 
to  the  Paftoral  office  among  them,  and  have  accepted 
their  invitation  ;  we,  the  Elders,  called  to  affift,  on  this 
occafion,  being  iuvefted  with  gofpel  authority  herefor, 
do  now,  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  intro- 
duce you  to  the  Paftoral  office  in  this  place,  and  com- 
mit to  your  minifterial   charge,  this  flock  and  people 

of 


f         «4         } 

bf  God.  And  we  folemnly  charge  you,  before  GoH 
and  this  afiembly,  to  be  faithful,  in  this  office,  faithful 
to  God,  to  Jefus  Chrift,  to  your  own  fouls  and  to  the 
fouls  of  this  people,  fo  that  you  may  not  be  a  cajia-way 
yourfelf,  and  that  thz  blood  of  their  fouls  may  not  be  re- 
quired at  your  hands. 

Apply   yourfelf,    therefore,  diligently   to  reading, 
meditation  and  prayer.      Study  the  lioJy  fcriptures^  that 
you  may  be  able  rightly  to  divide  the  word  of  truths  and 
to  preach  it  confidently.      Preach  the  word,   the  pure 
word  of  God,  unadulterated  by  the  glofles  of  fallible 
tnen.     Renounce  the  hidden_  things  of  difJionefy,  and  do 
not  walk  in  craftinefs,  or  handle  the  word  of  God  deceit-^ 
fully,  buz,  by  manifeflation  of  the  truth,  commend  yourfelf 
to  every  man's  confcience,  in  the  fg fit  of  God,     Teach  not, 
for  doctrines  of  God-,   the  fentiments  or  commandments  of 
men.     Call  no  man  on  earth,  Mafler  :  One,  in  Heaven, 
is  your  Mafler,  even  Chrifl.     Let  the  bible,  prayerfully 
lludicd,  be  your  guide.     Preach  not  yourfelf ,  hut  Chrifl 
Jefiis  the  Lord'    Preach  his  dotlrines,  precepts  and  ex- 
ample.    Thus,  you  will  deliver  found  doUrine,  which  can- 
hot  be  'condemned. 

Exhort,  admoni/h,  and  reprove^  with  all  patience  and 
tongfuffering.  Strive  to  enlighten,  convince  and  per- 
fuade  your  hearers.  Let  not  your  difcourfes  be  loofe, 
incoherent,  empty  harrangues,  but  laboured,  fentimen- 
tal  and  confnlent,  calculated  to  profit,  to  inflruft  the 
mind,  and  to  m.end  the  he^rt* 

We 


[  25  ] 

We  exhort  you  to  take  heed  toyourfelf,  as  well  as  to 
your  doftrine,  to  your  own  heart  and  life,  that  your 
people  may  have  no  evil  thing  to  fay  of  you.  Let  your 
pratiife  correfpond  with  your  preaching.  Walk  be- 
fore them  in  the  way  of  holinefs.  Be  an  example  to  the 
Jlockiin  converfatioUi  ihfpirit^  in  piety^  faith^  purity  and 
charity.  Be  a  man  of  prayer.  Pray  to  your  Lord, 
to  guide  and  aflift  you,  and  to  make  you  fuccefsful. 
Pray  with  and  for  your  people.  Bear  them  upon  your 
heart,  in  all  your  private  addreffes  to  the  throne  of 
grace.  If  you  love  them,  you  will  pray  for  them  :  if 
you  pray  for  them,  you  will  love  them.  Adminifter 
the  holy  ordinances  to  proper  liibjefts,  making  a  dif- 
ference between  the  holy  and  unclean.  Rule  well  in 
the  houfe  of  God,  doing  nothing  hy  partiality.  Do  not 
lord  it  over  God's  heritage.  You  have  no  dominion  over 
the  faith  of  others^  but  are  to  be  a  helper  of  their  joy. 

Zeal,  in  fo  good  a  caufe,  is  becoming.  But  let 
your  zeal  be  always  direfted  by  wifdom,  and  temper- 
ed by  prudence.  Let  it  be  the  flame  of  love,  but  hot 
aconfuming  fire.  Avoid  an  uncharitable,  cenforious 
conduft,  which  is  not  the  fpirit  of  Chrift  or  confonant 
with  the  gofpel.  This  has  injured  the  chara8:ers  and 
prevented  the  ufefulnefs  of  many  Minifters.  The  gof- 
pel breathes  love;  and  its  Minifters,  above  all  others, 
ihould  be  charitable  and  candid. 

Remember,  Sir,  you  are  fet  as  a  watchman  in  this 
place,  and  that  you  watch  for  their  fouls,  as  one  that 
mull  give  an  account  to  your  Lord.  Be  thou  a  faith- 
E  ful 


[         26         j 

ftil  watchman.  Warn  the  wicked,  thai  he  turn  from  his 
wickednefs,  and  live.  Warn  the  righteous^  that  he  turn 
not  from  his  righteoufaefs,  and  die.  Warn  eveyy  many 
and  teach  every  man,  in  all  wifdomy  that y on  may  prefent 
every  manperfcB  in  Chrifi  J'fas.  Finally,  we  charge 
you,  to  feed  this  flock  of  God,  uith  knowUdge  and  under- 
flanding.  Feed  Chrifi' s  flitep  and  lambs.  Be  thou  a 
prudent  fhepherd,  a  diligent  labourer,  a  faithful  am- 
bafrador,  an  upright  lie  ward,  a  good  miniller,  and  a 
bright  ftar,  to  direft  fouls  to  Chrift. 

Although  your  work  is  great  and  arduous,  yet  it 
is  honourable.  It  is  the  fervice  of  God;  and  the  Son 
of  God  hath  put  honour  upon  it,  for  he  hath  wrought 
in  it.  He  came,  not  to  be  minifered  unto,  but  to  minifler. 
And  he  hath  faid,  Lo,  I  am  -with  you  always.  My  grace 
is  fuJUcient  for  you.  Although  the  minifterial  office  is 
attended  with  peculiar  pains  and  trials,  yet  it  has  its 
comforts  and  advantages.  You,  Sir,  have  a  fair  op« 
portunity,  like  your  benevolent  Lord,  to  do  good,  to 
fave  fouls  from  death.  And  what  can  be  more  joy- 
ous to  the  heart  of  a  good  man,  than  to  be  a  fpiritual 
father  to  a  numerous  offspring  of  immortal  children, 
to  fee  them  walking  in  the  truth,  to  enjoy  their  affec- 
tion, and  to  be  bleff<:d  with  the  hope,  that  they  will  be 
his  crown  of  rejoicing,  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  ?  You 
ferve  a  good  mailer ;  and  if  you  keep  this  charge,  and 
are  faithful,  you  will  not  lofe  your  reward  ;  you  will  re- 
ceive a  crown  of  life.  Be  of  good  courage,  and  the 
Lord  be  with  thee.  Brethren 


[        *7        ] 

Brethren  of  this  Church  dnd  Congregation,  You  have 
chofen  this  man  to  be  your  Mmifter.  At  your  re- 
queft  he  is,  this  day,  regularly  induced  to  the  paftoral 
office  among  you.  You  have  heard  the  folemn  charge 
w  ich  he  has  received.  We  now  exhort  and  charge 
you,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to  treat  him  with  all 
the  kindnefs  and  refpeft  which  are  due  to  the  fervant 
of  the  Lord,  fo  long  as  he  Ihall  a6l  agreeable  to  this 
facred  chara6ler.  Pray  for  him.  Attend  upon  his 
miniftry.  Regard  the  word  of  the  Lord  from  his 
mouth.  Unite  your  exertions  with  his  labours,  to  pro- 
mote religion,  and  build  up  the  Redeemer's  kingdom 
in  this  place.  Cultivate  peace  and  love,  harmony  and 
good  order,  among  yourfelves,  that  the  God  of  love 
^nd  peace  may  dwell  with  you  and  blefs  you.  Should 
you,  hereafter,  fuppofe  (which  God  forbid)  that  your 
paftor,  by  any  mal- conduct,  fhall  have  forfeited  his 
minifterial  charaQer,  ftill  treat  him  with  juftice  and 
candor,  and  let  his  condud  be  fairly  examined  and  im- 
partially tried  before  he  is  condemned.  If  you  fliould 
unjuftly  abufe  and  injure  him,  Chrift  will  confider  it 
as  an  injury  offered  to  himfelf.  We  hope  better  things. 
We  wifh  and  pray,  that  you  may  long  rejoice  in  his 
light,  and  that  he  may  rejoice  in  your  efteem  and  af- 
feftion ;  that  you  may  be  mutually  happy  together  in 
this  world,  and  finally  meet  and  rejoice  together  in  the 
Jiingdom  of  Heaven.     Amen. 


[        ^8        ] 


THE 


RIGHT  HAND  of  FELLOWSHIP, 

B   Y 

The  Reverend  AARON  GREEN,  o/"Malden. 


THE  diiTerent  religions  which  have  obtained  in  the 
world,  have  ufually  been  diftinguifhed  by  fome 
peculiar  mark,  name  or  charafter. 

Our  bleffed  Lord  and  Mafter  would  have  his  dif- 
ciples  known  by  their  mutual  love,  charity  and  endear- 
ed friendfhip.  A  new  commandment,  fays  he,  I  give 
unto  you,  thai  ye  love  one  another.  By  this,JhaU  all  men 
know  that  ye  are  my  difciples,  if  ye  love  one  another.  Hap- 
py would  it  have  been  for  the  chriftian  world,  had  his 
followers  never  have  deviated  from  this  excellent  rule. 
But,  alas !  how  often  have  they  degenerated  from  that 
temper,  which  the  gofpel  of  Chrift  ever  recommends, 
and  of  which  he  fat  fo  amiable  an  example,  into  quite 
the  oppofite  difpoliiion. 

Our  illuftrious  fathers  feverely  felt  the  rage  of  a 
bitter  and  intolerant  fpirit.  Perfecuted  at  home,  they 
fought  an  afylum  abroad.  And  the  fame  prote6ting 
Prpvidence,  which  lead  the  children  of  Ifrael  through 
the  tracklefs  defert,  conduced  them  to  this,  which, 
though  now  a  pleafant  land,  was  then  an  inhofpitable 

fhore, 


[        ?9        3 

Chore,  a  howling  wildernefs.  Such  was  their  zeal  in 
the  caufe  of  religion,  that  they  no  fooner  found  a  fe- 
cure  retreat,  than  they  took  care  to  plant  gofpel 
churches.  Here  therefore  they  planted  churches,  not 
on  the  unfocial  principles  of  ecclefiaftical  feparated  in- 
dependency, but  on  the  more  fcriptural  and  benevo- 
lent principles  of  united  love  and  fellowftiip.  To  ex- 
prefs  this  truly  benevolent  idea,  our  venerable  ancef- 
tors,  following  apoftolic  example,  eftablifhed  this  fig- 
nificant  rite,  which  has  uniformly  prevailed  on  all  fuch 
occafions  as  the  prefent,  of  expreffing  the  fellowfliip 
of  the  churches,  by  giving  the  right  hand. 

Im  conformity,  therefore,  to  the  invariable  praQife 
of  thefe  congregational  churches,  and  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  council  here  convened,  as  well   as  in  the 
name  and  behalf  of  the  churches,  who^e  meflengerswe 
are,  I  do,  Reverend  and  dear  Si?',  give  you  the  Right 
Hand  of  Fellowfhip.     By  this,  we  publicly  recognize 
you  as  a  Minifter  of  Jcfus  Chrift.      We  declare  our 
willingnefs  to  help,  fupport,  and  encourage  you  in  the 
important  work,  in  which  you  are  engaged.     We  thus 
receive  you  as  a  brother,  and  fellow  labourer,  in  the 
kingdom  and  patience  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jefus 
Chrift.      We  truft  your  feet  are  fhod  with  the  prepa- 
ration of  the  gofpel  of  peace.     We  truft  you  are  ready 
and  willing  chearfully  to  encounter  all  the  difBcukies 
of  the  minifterial  office;  that  you  have  a  zeal  for  God, 
otherwife,  that  you  would  not,  a  fecond  time,  have  ac- 
cepted the  important  charge.      Therefore,  welcome, 

my 


.      [        so        ] 

my  brother,  into  the  Lord's  vineyard.  You  knpw  the 
important  office,  which  you  now  again  fuftain,  and 
wc  truft  it  will  be  your  conftant  endeavour  to  magnify 
it.  Therefore,  while  this,  the  people  of  your  charge, 
reft  upon  your  heart,  you  will  let  holinefs  to  the  Lord 
be  infcribed  on  all  your  deportment  among  them. 

As  your  brethren,  we  fliall  always  be  ready  to  af- 
ford you  all  the  affiftance  and  fupport,  which  you  may 
need,  and  we  confiftently  be  able  to  impait;  and  in 
return,  you  will  permit  us  to  expe6l  the  reciprocation 
of  the  fame  from  you. 

While  your  aim  is  to  win  fouls,  your  hands  will 
be  filled  with  work,  and  your  heart  warmed  with  love 
to  the  Lord  Jefus.  May  he  own  you  and  blefs  yoU;  as 
an  able,  a  faithful  and  a  fuocefsful  Minifter  in  his  be- 
nevolent caufe.  I  add  no  more,  but  my  moft  fervent 
prayers  to  Almighty  God,  that  by  night  and  by  day, 
when  alone  and  in  company,  in  profperity  and  in  ad- 
verfity,  you  may  ftill  be  with  God ;  may  the  Almighty 
be  your  conftant  refuge  ;  the  moft  High  your  habita- 
tion, and  underneath  and  around  you,  the  everlafting 
arms. 

We  congratulate  you,  our  brethren  of  this  church 
and  congregation,  on  the  joyous  folemnities,  which 
this  day  h|^s  afforded.  We  have  heretofore  trembled 
for  you,  left  divifion  and  confufion  rearing  their  fright- 
ful heads  among  you,  fhould  deftroy  your  peace  and 
happinefs.  But  fuch  is  your  attachment  to  order,  and 
fuch  your  love  for  the  truth,  that  you  have  not  only 

baniftted 


[        3»        J 

banifhed  confufiorij  with  her  evil  work,  but  invited 
the  pleafing  found  of  the  gofpel  to  entertain  and  in- 
ftru8;  you.  You  have  furmounted  difficulties,  which, 
with  trembling  hearts,  we  contemplated  as  ferious  and 
alarming;  and  we  rejoice  with  you  on  the  profpeft^ 
which  this  day  prefents. 

According  to  yourrequeft,  we  have  granted  our 
affiftance  in  introducing  this  our  brother  into  the  im- 
portant work  of  the  miniftry  among  you.  Behold  the 
man.  Receive  him  as  a  gift  of  our  afcended  Lord 
and  Saviour.  Indulge  him  with  your  conftant  atten- 
tion, your  fympathy,  your  affiftance  and  fupport.  And 
may  he  prove  a  rich  and  a  lafting  bleffing  to  you  and 
to  your  children  after  you. 

Finally,  brethren,  farexveU  he  pcrJeB,  he  of  good,  chear^ 
he  of  one  mind-,  live  in  peace  ;  and  the  God  of  love  and 
peace  fhall  be  with  you. 


AMEN, 


,"1 


